KGSTOBEGINTESTINGWELLS

Kansas Geological Survey water specialists are inviting western and central Kansas landowners to be good neighbors early this month.

Crews from the Geological Survey, based at Kansas University, will begin conducting tests Sunday for an annual program that monitors ground water levels in 47 Kansas counties. The operation goes smoother with cooperation of local landowners.

"The key to the quality of this data is in making timely and accurate measurements," said Rick Miller, chief of exploration services at the Geological Survey. "This year we are again requesting the continued support of landowners and local communities in making this program successful."

Geological Survey and the Kansas Department of Agriculture measure water levels in about 1,400 wells each January. Most of these wells are used for irrigation.

About 90 percent of the measured wells take water from the High Plains aquifer, which consists of the Ogallala Formation and other water-bearing rock formations that are connected to the Ogallala.

Weather permitting, crews plan to begin work in northwestern Kansas. They will then move through west-central Kansas and southwestern Kansas before winding up in central Kansas by Jan. 9.

Water specialists will use global positioning systems to locate each well. Results will be entered into database and should be available from Geological Survey by Feb. 1.

-- Tim Carpenter's phone message number is 832-7155. His e-mail address is tcarpenter@ljworld.com.